On March 24, 2026, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 Million in damages, finding the company violated state consumer protection laws by failing to protect children on Facebook and Instagram.
With this verdict, New Mexico becomes the first state to prevail at trial in social media litigation against a major technology company over child safety concerns. The decision signals growing legal pressure on tech companies for how their platforms are designed and managed.
“The jury’s verdict is a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety.”
– Raúl Torrez, New Mexico Attorney General
At Sokolove Law, we believe companies should be held accountable when they fail to protect vulnerable users. If you or your child has been harmed, our team may be able to fight for you.
About the New Mexico Lawsuit Against Meta
Filed in 2023, the New Mexico lawsuit against Meta centered on serious allegations that the company put children at risk while presenting their platforms as safe.
Attorney General Raúl Torrez claimed that Meta misled the public about how well they protect young users while failing to prevent predators from targeting children on Facebook and Instagram.
Evidence presented during the New Mexico Meta trial showed that the company:
- Allowed design features that enabled predators to sexually exploit children
- Engineered their platforms to addict young users and expose them to harmful content
- Knew their products caused harm but failed to enact adequate child safety measures
- Disregarded warnings from their own employees and child safety experts
- Failed to tell the public the truth about what they knew
The case was sparked by an undercover investigation in which authorities created a fake social media profile for a 13-year-old girl. According to Torrez, the account was quickly flooded with sexual content and targeted solicitations from adults.
Breaking Down the $375 Million New Mexico Meta Verdict
After weeks of testimony, a New Mexico jury found Meta liable for violating the state’s consumer protection laws. The case focused on platform design and safety practices — not just user-generated content.
Jurors concluded that Meta willfully violated the New Mexico Unfair Practices Act, agreeing with the state’s argument that the company failed to protect children while misleading families about the safety of their platforms.
The jury awarded the maximum penalty of $5,000 per violation for a total of $375 Million.
Meta, however, insisted that their apps are safe and said they would appeal the decision.
What Happens Next in the New Mexico Meta Case
The legal fight isn’t over. A second phase of the case is scheduled to begin in May 2026, where a judge will decide whether:
- Meta’s conduct constitutes a public nuisance
- The company should fund programs to address harm to children
- Additional changes to the platform should be required
Proposed changes could include stronger age verification, better removal of predators, and limits on encrypted communications that may shield harmful activity.
During the trial, prosecutors presented internal Meta messages showing that 2019 changes to Facebook Messenger limited the information the company shared with law enforcement in approximately 7.5 million child abuse reports.
$6 Million Social Media Harm Verdict in California
A separate social media trial in California reached a verdict just 1 day later, potentially showing the start of a trend in holding social media platforms accountable. The lawsuit was the first in a group of over 2,400 claims brought against social media platforms by families, school districts, and tribes.
In that case, a Los Angeles jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 Million total to a young woman who alleged that social media addiction contributed to mental health harm.
The award included $3 Million for her losses and $3 Million in punitive damages, with Meta responsible for 70% and YouTube for 30%.
While the California case focused on addictive design and personal injury, the New Mexico social media case targeted something broader — statewide consumer protection violations.
Together, these cases show that courts are increasingly willing to examine how social media affects users and whether companies are systemically failing to protect children.
See If Sokolove Law Can Fight for Your Family
At Sokolove Law, our social media harm attorneys have the experience and resources to take on powerful technology companies and fight for the justice families deserve.
We've secured more than $10.3 Billion total for clients across the country — and we never charge any upfront costs or hourly fees.
Call (800) 995-1212 right now or get a free case review to take the first step toward justice. We can help families in all 50 states.
